Reed Students Participate In Geography Bee

Contenders in this year's National Geographic Geography Bee at Reed Intermediate School stand together after the competition held on Monday, January 14. Reed Principal Jay Smith, back row right, came dressed in his alterego "Nebraska Smith," Indiana Jones's fifth cousin.

Reed Intermediate School sixth grade teacher Maura Drabik introduced the assembled school in the school's cafetorium on Monday, January 14, to the conclusion of the National Geographic Geography Bee at Reed.

Each sixth grade student participating in the Geography Bee on Monday represented his or her cluster. The students, Ms Drabik explained, had to pass a number of rounds in their cluster to be named to the championship round.

As a special surprise for the event, Reed Principal Jay Smith made his connection, fifth cousin, to Indiana Jones known. Dr Smith explained to the gathered students, he is also known as "Nebraska Smith."

Dr Smith also said Indiana Jones gave him a statement to share with the students.

Multiple rounds of the Geography Bee were needed to determine the first place winner in the competition. Different forms of questions were asked during each round. For some questions, students wrote responses on personal white boards, and for others students used a map to find locations that would correspond to the question asked of them.

In the end, Cameron Trivers was named the first place winner of Reed's Geography Bee. He was recognized with a medal.

Ms Drabik said the National Geographic Geography Bee takes place in schools across the country, and each school's winning student goes on to compete at the state level. Students who progress past the state level will continue on to the national competition, where they could potentially win a $25,000 scholarship and an allexpense-paid trip to the Galapagos Islands.